Dubai Abu Dhabi War highlights: UAE intercepts 10 missiles, 26 drones in a day; fresh blasts heard in Iran

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: This image provided by Planet Labs PBC shows the Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Iran war news highlights: The UAE has stated it intercepted a total of 10 missiles and 26 drones on Thursday as the US-Iran conflict continues to spread across West Asia. As the conflict escalates, similar attacks were intercepted and reported by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and more. Mojtaba Khamenei makes first statement as Supreme Leader

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who is yet to appear in public, vowed on Thursday to avenge the deaths since the start of the war with the US and Israel, in a statement read out by a presenter on state TV.

"A limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will remain among our priorities," Khamenei, said according to the statement.

"We will seek compensation from the enemy, and if they refuse, we will take as much of their property as we determine, and if that is not possible, we will destroy the same amount of his property," he added.

Iran's health ministry said on March 8 that more than 1,200 people had been killed, and over 10,000 civilians injured.

Explosions heard in Dubai

Loud explosions were heard in downtown Dubai amid Iran's continued targeting of countries in the Gulf, news agency AFP reported on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in its attempt to upend trade routes amid already high concerns of an oil crisis, Iran escalated its targeting of energy establishments in the Gulf, with strikes targeting a container ship off the UAE near the outskirts of Dubai and a drone attack on Oman's Salalah Port.

The development came a day after two drones hit near the Dubai airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates and the world's busiest for international travel. Despite four injuries in the incident, air travel continued, the Dubai Media Office said on Wednesday.

Here's what's latest on the Iran-US conflict and tensions in the Middle East:

Dubai airport targeted: The Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest, was targeted on Wednesday as two drones fell near it, injuring four people. The development marked an escalation in Iran's attempts to put pressure on the US and Israel to end the war that began on February 28, the day the US and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

UN reacts to attacks in Gulf: Amid Iran's ongoing offensive in the Gulf, the UN Security Council voted to approve a resolution demanding a halt to Iran’s “egregious attacks”. “The international community is resolute in rejecting these Iranian attacks against sovereign countries that are threatening the stability of the peoples, especially in a region of strategic importance to global economy, energy, security and security of global trade,” said Bahrain’s U.N. ambassador, Jamal Alrowaiei.

Iran's warning to American banks: After targeting US consulates and embassies in the Middle East, Iran has now warned it would come after US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks. The threat triggered some firms, including Citi, to ask employees to evacuate offices in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

US to release 172 million barrels of oil: Amid global energy concerns and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a key path used by countries to transport oil, the US has announced it would release 172 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve.